Commutator-collector.



No. 66|,227. Patented Nov. 6, |900.

H. G. HEIST &. E. L. AIKEN..

COMMUTATUR COLLECTOR.

(Application med: June 25, 1898.)

PIJENTDRE. M1-[455555. Henry @.Reisb5 Edward L.0qi ken.

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No. 66|,227. Patented Nov 6, |900 H. G. HEIST E. L. AIKEN.

-L'IUIMIUTATOR COLLECTOR.

(Appl ton ldJun 25 1898) 2 sheets-shear 2.

(No Iodel.)

INVEPITDFQS. Henrg G. Heist, Edward L .Jqken,

\A/ITNESEE5. www@ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY G. RElS'l AND EDYARD L. AIKEN, OF SCHENECTADY, NEY YORK, ASSIGNORS TC rlHE GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF NET YORK.

COMMUTATOR-COLLECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 661,227, dated November 6, 1900.

Application filed June 25,1898.

To all wwnt t may concern.-

Be it known that we, HENRY G. REIST and EDWARD L. AIKEN, citizens of the United States, residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Commutator-Collectors, (Case No. 720,) of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to commutator-colxo lectors for alternating-current machines, es-

pecially to their mechanical features. It is particularly useful in polyphase dynamos; but the features of its construction could be applied with any type of machine, and in i5 some respects it is applicable to ordinary commutators. In general its most useful application will be found in rectifying-commutators, so called, such as those just briey described.

2o It consists in general ofan arbor upon which the collector-rings and commutator of an alternating-current machine are mounted in such a way that they may be readily removed and taken apart for repairs. In some of its features it resembles in general the construction described in the priorpatent to Henry G Reist, No. 533,084, dated January 29, 1895; but it is an improvement upon that in several particulars, which will be apparent from this descrip- 5o tion. Upon the arbor we mount a number of supporting-rings, which make a working iit with the said arbor, a separate ring for each of the collectors andone for the commutator. Between each collector-ring and the supporting-ring upon which it is mounted insulation is interposed, the collector-rings and the com mutator being then shrunk onto the mounting-rings. Between each two adjacent collectors thus mounted on its ring 410 and between one of these and the commutator may be placed insulating-sepia, and suitable securing devices are provided by which the construction when assembled becomes a rigid whole. The commutator also embraces 45 some peculiar features. It is by ypreference .cast in a single piece having an external flange of the full width of the commutator- -segments and internal rings connected (in :alternation or staggered around the com- "5o lmutator) to the external ilange by suitable spokes. lt will be seen that in this construc- Serial No. 684,520. (No model.)

tion by cutting a saw-kerf between each spoke the three rings will be separated. Vhere the construction is employed in a polyphase dynamo, there will ot' course be one ring for 55 each phase to be cominuted. Each ring will then support a series of segments interleaved between those carried by the other rings. XVe have shown a th ree-phase device, but are not limited in this regard. 6o

The accompanying drawings show our construction.

Figure l is an end elevation of the commutator; Fig. 2, a section showing the arbor, collector-rings, and commutator secured in place; and Fig. 3, a perspective of the blank employed in the process of constructing the commutator.

In Fig. l, A is the arbor. B is one of the internal rings of the commutator. C is a ring 7o fitting the latter. D is suitable insulation between the ring C and the internal ring B. E represents the spokes connecting the commutator-ring B to the external flange F, which forms the working face of the cominutatorsegments. E' E2arespokesinditferent planes and staggered with respect to spoke E and connecting the vflange F with the other interior rings B" B2. (Shown in Fig. 2.) Cr G are blocks of wood which are driven in place 8o between the spokes before the commutatorsegments are sawed apart, and H H are strips of mica which areinserted through the spaces between the segments and into the kei-fs in the wooden blocks after the segments have been separated.

The construction will be more clearly understood from Eig. 2, in which a completed device embodying our invention is shown in section. ln this the internal rings B B/ B2 oi' 9o the commntator are shown in section. These are all carried bythe same supporting-ring C. Upon similar rings C C2 C3 are mounted the collector-rings I/ l2 I2, also formed with interior rings and spokes and having the insulating-septa J/ J2 J3 JL between the different collectors. A suitable shoulder A is provided at one end of the arbor, against which the septum J bears, and a retaining ring A2, screw-threaded, secures the parts in place, a roo washer d being interposed between the septum J and the ring A2, and set-screws Ct holding the ring from. turning. Leads K K K2 K3, protected by sleeves d, of insulating` material, tap into the device at suitable points, and from these the cables of the machine are led in the usual way.

The method of assembling the device is as follows: After the arbor A has been turned to the proper diameter and the thread cut upon its end the rings U C' C2 C3 are machined to make a working lit with the arbor. These rings are then removed and insulation D, preferably of mica, built up on them to the desired thickness. rlhe collector-rings I' F I3 are then machined and are shrunk on or otherwisc rigidly secured to the rings C over the insulation. The commutator is similarly made up. After this the flange is turned and the wooden wedges G are driven into place in the openings between the spokes E E E2. rlhe saw-kerfs are then made through the flange F and the wooden blocks or wedges, separating' the Flange ot' the comm utator into three series of segments. In the com mutator described in patent to Henry G. Reist, No. 533,084, it was necessary not only to separate theportions ofthe `flange, but also to bore two alternating series of lateral holesin the radial web ot' the casting to electrically divide the structure. it is clear that it would be impossible to bore holes in such a wayin a third web located between two outer webs. With our present invention it is possible to construct a com mutator having segments of great width and any desired number of series ot' spokes or supports from a previously-machined and trued-up single-piece casting. Insulation H is then placed in the slots between the segments and a finishing cut is taken over the whole of it. The holes for the leads K may be tapped either while the rings are separated or after they are assembled. The parts are then assembled upon the arbor and the ring A2 is tightened over the washer a and held in place by the set-screws a@ The leads K are then screwed in through the holes which are prepared for them, being held centrally by insulating thimbles d in addition to the sleeves d, of insulating material.

lf for any reason it becomes desirable to take down the device, this can readily be done by reversing the process, when the parts may be repaired and reassembled.

That we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. The combination with a supporting-ring and a body of insulation formed thereon, of a plurality of commutator-rings shrunk on over the insulation.

2. The combination of an arbor, a number of metal rings making working its therewith, corresponding insulating-rings thereon, collecting devices mounted on the different rings, and means for securing the parts.

3. The combination of an arbor, a number of metal rings making working lits therewith, insulation upon the rings, collecting devices shrunk on over the insulation, insulatingsepta between the collectors, and means for securing the parts in place.

at. An integral blank for the com mulator of a dynamo-electric machine,comprising a n umber of rings connected by staggtu'ed spokes to an external ring or ange.

5. The process of constructing a commutator, which consists in forming a blank having a number of internal rings connected by spokes with an external flange, mounting the rings upon an insulating-support, and then cutting the flange between each two spokes so as to form comm utator-segments.

t5. The process of constructing a commutator, which consists in forming a blank having a number of separated internal rings connected by spokes with an external flange, shrinking the blank on an insulating supporting-ring, and then cutting' the iiange between each two spokes so as to form commutator-segments.

7. A commutator comprising a metallic casting having a plu rality of supporting-rings, each ring connected by a series of spokes which do not overlap the spokes of another ring, to a peripheral flange cast in one piece and having its face divided into separate segments by cuts between each two spokes ol the total series of spokes.

S. A commutator `for a three-phase electrical machine, comprising a casting having three supportingrings, a series of spokes extending from each ring, no spoke in any series overlapping a spoke in another series, and a commutating-surface cast in one piece and divided by cuts across its face into a series of segments, to each ol which a spoke is connected.

9. A commutator comprising a casting havingseveralsupporting-rings,aseriesofspokes on each ring, each spoke in all the series occu pyingan unobstructed lateral space, a commutating peripherycastin one piece and having as many transverse cuts therethrough as the total number of spokes, a spoke being connected between each two cuts to said periphery.

l0. A commutator comprising a number of supporting-rings, each ring being united integrally by a series of spokes, each of which spokes occupies a different radial position from any one of all the series, with a dange cast in one piece and divided by transverse cuts into a series ot' commutating-segments which form a periphery ol substantially uniform width of face.

1l. A comm utator comprising a number of supporting-rings, spokes on each ring, anda flange cast in one piece and divided by transverse cuts into a series of contact-segments, each supported by a single spoke integral with its segment.

l2. A commutator comprising a number of concentric supporting-rings, integral spokes extending radially from the periphery of each ring, and a tiange cast in one piece and divided by transverse cuts into a series of con- IOO tact-segments, each supported by a single spoke integral with its segment.

13. The combination with an arbor, of a plurality of met-al rings mounted on said arbor and making a working fit therewith, insulation on said rings, collecting devices securely mounted over the insulation, insulating-septa between the collectors, and means for securing the parts.

14. A commutator comprising a cast blank havinganumberof separate supporting-rings integrally united by series of spokes with a peripheral flange cast in one piece, each spoke of which lies in an independent lateral position, incisions through the flange between each pair of spokes, and insulation in the incisions.

15. A commutator comprising` a blank having a number of separate supporting-rings integrally united by series of spokes with a peripheral flange cast in one piece, each spoke of' which lies in an independent radial position, supporting -blocks between each two spokes, incisions through the llange between each two spokes, and insulation in the incisions secured by the blocks.

16. A commu tator comprising a blank having a number of separate supporting-rings integrally united by series of spokes with a peripheral flange cast in one piece, each spoke of which lies in an independent radial position, supportingblocks between each two spokes, incisions through the [lange extending into each block, and insulation in the incisions between the flange-segments and held in the block incisions.

17. A cast commutator-blank consisting of a plurality of supporting-rings connected to a single exterior concentric ring by series of spokes, no two spokes of which share radial space.

18. In a commutator-collector, the combination with an arbor, of rings removably mounted thereon, insulation for said rings, and collecting and commutating devices securely mounted over said insulation.

19. In acommutator, the combination with an arbor, of rings thereon having a working.

iittherewith, insulation forsaid rings, collecting and commutating devices shrunk on over said insulation, and insulating-septa between the collecting and commutating devices.

20. The method of manufacture which consists in inserting supporting-blocks in the spaces between each pair of a radial series of spokes connecting a plurality of supportingrings with a peripheral flange, making a series of radial incisions through the flange and into the supporting-blocks, and then inserting insulating-septa in the incisions, between the separated flange-segments, and into the supporting-blocks.

21. The method of manufacture,which consists in inserting supporting-blocks in the spaces between each pair of a radial series of spokes connecting a plurality of supportingrings with a peripheral dange, making a series of radial incisions through the flange, each incision extending through the flange and into the separati iig-block, inserting insulating-sepia in the incisions between the separate flange-segments and into the supportingblocks, and then llnishing off the peripheral surface.

22. rlhe method of manufacturing commutators, which consists in mounting supporting-rings upon an arbor, covering the rings with insulating material, and then shrinking on contact-rings over the insulation.

23. The method of manufacturing commutators, which consists in mounting supporting-rings and insulating-septa alternately upon an arbor, then covering the rings with insulating material, and shrinking on contact-rings over the insulation.

24. A commutator having a peripheral flange cast in a single pieceand integral with interior supports, which supports are organized into a plurality of electrically-separated parts, said flange having perforating incisions between each pair of radial supports, whereby the commutator,including the flange as well as the supports, is divided into a plurality of electrically-independent parts.

25. The combination with a plurality of inte lor members, of a series of integral supports extending radially in the same plane from each member, the supports on no member occupying the same radial position as those of another member, and a peripheral flange cast in one piece and integral with said supports and having a perforating incision between each pair of supports.

26. A commutator, which consists ot' an arbor, insulation mounted thereon, a plurality of rings mounted rigidly over the insulation, a plurality of series of spokes extending radially from the rings, no two series of spokes being in the same plane, no two spokes occupying like radial position, and a continuous flange on the ends of the spokes, from which transverse portions are removed between adjacent portions connected to spokes, whereby each ring, its spokes and the segments thus formed on the ends of the spokes are electrically separated from the other rings, spokes and segments.

27. A commutator, which comprises a plurality of rings having radial spokes, an exterior flange which is divided into electrically-separate segments by the removal of transverse sections of the metal of the ilange between adjacent spokes, wherebysuccessive segments are connected by the corresponding spokes to different rings.

2S. A commutator, which comprises an eX- terior flange cast integral with radial spokes extending from a plurality of separated internal supporting-rings, transverse portions of the metal of the flange between adjacent spokes being removed to form separate commutator-segments.

29. A commutator, which comprises a plurality of rings, a plurality of radial supports IOO ' single-piece casting thereon provided with a plurality of rings which are rigidly secured over the insulation, with radial supports extending froln each ring, and With a peripheral flange, said flange being divided into segments by the removal of transverse sections of metal therefrom, at points hetveen the junctions of the radial supports with the ange.

In Witness whereof We have hereunto set our hands this 17th day of Julie, lSQS.

HENRY G. REIST. EDVARD L. AlKEN.

Witnesses: l

B. B. HULL, C. L. HAYNES. 

